Flexible shafting assembly



Jan. 30,1945. ElSENBEls 2,368,457

FLEXIBLE SHAFTING AS SEMBLY Filed May 20} 1944 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 43 LL-W W 31'."

3 rwmvbom 3&3 -a-y/ng Gum e. G. EISENBEIS 2,368,457

FLEXIBLE SHAFTING ASSEMBLY Filed May 20, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 30, 1945;

. zmmwllmz f V III Patented Jan. 30, 1945 ELExiBLEsHAFTma s-sEmLv- George. GLEisenbeis, Conklin, N. Y., assignox: to.

.S't'ow Manufacturing Co., Binghamt'on, N2 1.,1 a; corporation of New York: ApplicationMayZl), 1944,1',S.erial1.No. 5%;56-1'.

. 'liClaims. This invention relatesato: i mprovementsrin flexiible shafting assemblies and more particularly to alflexible shafting assembly which; whilenot limited; thereto, has especial: utilitv as an actuato]: for: the: remote control of valves and like devices; I

Among the objects of theinvention may-be noteithepmvis-ion of animprovedfiexible shafting; assembly of: rugged yet simple construction and design capableof transmitting power from an drive. terminal; to a.-. remotely positioned valve; for: example; the provision f Pa flexible shafting actuator for thevremote control of valves which is effective and-efiicient inoperation and which may:be afilxed in simple manner to avalve to be, actuated ;.s the; provision. of atflexi-ble shaiti-ng actuator forvalves and the like which incorporates a. flexible-- shafting' unit a'dapted tobe driven from:apoint'remote from the valve, a valve op"- eratingmeans which is adapted to bepermanentlyl afiixed to x the valve; and a novel and improved quick: disconnect coupling for detachably connecting theshat-ting unit andthe operating means as: aforesaid; andthe provision of'anovel and improved quick disconnect. coupling operative' between the shafting unit and the valve operating meansias aforesai'd to lo'ck the coupled elements: against accidental separa'tionor disconnection. v

Other objects-twill be in part' -obvious-from the annexed c'lravvings and in part hereinaft'erf indicated in: connection. therewith by the following analysis of the invention;

' 'Fig. 1; is a part elevation-of a: flexible shafting assemblyinstallation according totheinvention; shown to extend'fro'ina deck station to a: ships valve located remotely therefrom;

Fig; 2 is an enlarged part section illustrating the coupling generally shown in- Fig. 1', the operating meansof" the assembly-being of the-type suited" for the actuation of a non-rising stem gate-valve; forexamp'le; 5

dis a View similar to Fig. 2, illustrating a somewhat modified form of operating means forattachment tea rising stein gate valve;

4- is a viewsimillarto'Figs. '2 and 3," illustratin'ga further 'emhodim'ent ofo'p'erating means asrequired for-the actuation of globe and angle valves; for-example:

Referring to the drawings; wherein like refcrence= characters indicate like parts throughout the:= severalviews; a flexible shafting assembly according to the invention will be hereinafter described as anactuator for the remote control from. the: control station;..

ofa shipscvalve being: Shawna in Fig.1 as extending betweena, control; statiorr'o-n: an. upper deck: and: the valve 3 to; be 1 actuated, which: latter will beunderstood to be located at a pointremote Such an; assembly is constitutedby a flexiblelshafting unit generally designatedi SU, Fig. a valve operating means-: to be hereinafter: refemted; to as a: hand wheel adapter: assemblyrI-IA,. is: adapted to be more or" less permanently securedcto; thevalve hand wheel, and means to be described? providing; a quick: disconnect coupling; SCZbetweena the driven or take-offend of the shaftingunit and the'adapter assembly. I

The flexible shafitings unit S-U, which. is: of length to extendi from the control stationntc; a point adjacent the valve; includesashaftingcore fi-formed, for example,offaplurality'of superimposed layersof wires: helically: wound: on a central wire and being' enclosed within avconcven-tional-metallic casing T; Thecore-at its-wiiriving end terminates in a drive fitting 8; rotating within the sleeve 9 of a bulkhead or: deck terminal extending through a. bulkhead: or. deck: plate l0; andwhiclris preferably of the type disclosed in my ccpendin-g application: Serial, No; 524,958, filed March 3, 1944: The drive fittingk thus pierces the bulkhead wall or deck plate H1 and carries at its 'rela'ti-vely outer. end a hand. wheel I' l for rotating the core relative to: casing T, the latter being fixedly" secured within the terminal sleeve 9-. Other 'means for'operating th'e drive fitting and core may of course besubstituted under conditions requiring power actuation, forsexample. i

At its driv en=or take off'end- (Fig; 2), the shafting'core- B terminates in an-el'on gated fitting I2 provided at its end with a socket for receiving thereduced' shank l3 oifan adapter end M of the adapter-assembly I-I'A'to bedescribed which as-shown' is'coupled to the fitting bY-"a taper pin JEan'dby a: Wood-rufi key l6 to turn with fitting andcore.

The casing! terminates in a ferrule l-Bwhich I in final assembly is interiorly'"secured--asby a set screw- [9"; threaded-into one end" of" a terminal sleeve '20, so that its tip seats in an annular groove formed in the ferrule, the sleeve providing a housing which substantially encloses the fitting l2 and adapter end l4". The other'end of the'terminal sleeve 20 carries an internalbushing fl of bearing-metal secured in-pl'ace as by'a machine screw 22", the innerdiameterof the bushing being such as to provide turning clearance forthe 'enl'arged cylindricalbearing-portion-Et of the adapter end [4, which is separated'from the shank end 13 thereof by a shoulder 24. Hence, by the described arrangement, the adapter end is .iour-' naled for rotation relative to the terminal sleeve in the bearing bushing 2! carried thereby. A washer disposed on the shank end 13 of the adapter end is positioned between the end face of the fitting l2 and the adapter shoulder 24, its external diameter being such that the washer laps the inner end face of the bearing bushing 2| and thus serves to prevent wear on the latter by the fitting, and also to locate the adapter end with its shoulder aligned with said bushing end face.

The adapter end extends beyond the terminal sleeve 20 and is formed with a large diameter neck portion 25 separated from the cylindrical portion 23 thereof bya shoulder 21, and a head portion 28 having larger diameter than the adapter neck portion and being separated from r the latter by a shoulder 29. The end face of the adapter head is provided with a transverse tongue or rib 30 for the purpose to be hereinafter described.

Considering now the hand wheel adapter assembly HA, such includes a sleeve 32 into one end of which extends the shouldered adapter body or plug 33, the upwardly extending head 34 of which is threaded and extends beyond the sleeve end and has an end face provided with a transverse groove adapted to mate with the tongue 30 of the adapter end 14. The adapter body is fixedly secured to the sleeve 32 as by welding along its shoulder, as indicated, whereby rotation thereof is transmitted to the sleeve. The other end of the sleeve carries a radial flange 35 which is shown as welded to the sleeve, although the flange may be, formed integral. Where the flexible shafting assembly of the invention is employed to actuate a valve, the adaptor assembly is more or less permanently secured to the hand wheel 36 with which the valve is conventionally provided, by locating the sleeve over the end nut 31 employed to secure the hand wheel to the valve stem 38, and thereupon securing the flange 35 to the hand wheel spokesby means such as the U-bolts 39, the threaded ends of which are held by nuts 40. Other forms of securement between the adapter assembly and the valve may of course be substituted and, where the flexible shafting assembly is employed to actuate devices other than valves, the adapter assembly will of course be modified to adapt it to such devices.

In the illustrated embodiment, it will be observed that the internal diameter of the sleeve 32 is somewhat greater than that of the nut 31, so that the sleeve may be readily placed over the latter. Where the assembly is employed to actuate a valve of the non-rising stem type, as in the Fig. 1 illustration, the height of the sleeve 32 need be only that required to accommodate for the height of the nut 31 and the depth of insertion of the adapter body 33 into the sleeve, with suitable clearance.

The invention also provides a novel quick disconnect coupling SC adapted to secure the adapter end 14 and the adapter body 33 in coupled relation. To this end, the head 28 of the adapter endcarries a freely rotatable. couplingnut 42 which-is interiorly threaded as shown and which, moreover, is provided with an internal flange 43 turning on the neck portion 26 thereof. It will be observed that the inner face of the coupling nut flange 43 is adapted to bear on the shoulder 29 between the neck and head portions of the adapter end, the flange further serving to secure the coupling nut in the space between the shoulder 29 and the adjacent end faces of the terminal sleeve 28 and bushing 2i carried thereby. Operating arms 44 are provided on the coupling nut to assist in turning thereof relative to head of the adapter end. Hence, uponregistering of the tongue and groove of the adapter end and body members, the coupling nut 42 can be threaded on to the head of the adapter body 33, both to secure the parts in coupled relation and to effect rotation of hand wheel adapter assembly from the shafting core.

It will be observed that when so coupled the internal flange 43 of the coupling nut bears against the head shoulder 29 of the adapter end and thus locks the latter against endwise lifting movement as would tend to result in separation of the coupled elements, a condition which might occur when the flexible shafting unit is tensioned.

Assuming the hand wheel adapter assembly as described to be bolted to the operating hand wheel of a valve. as above indicated, and with the adapter end 14 having driving connection with the core fitting 12 as shown, the take-01f end of the shafting unit may be coupled thereto by the simple operation of registering the tongue and groove of the adapter end and adapter body, respectively, and thereupon screwing down on the coupling nut 42. The aforesaid quick disconnect coupling is of particular advantage not only in effecting quick coupling of the parts but also in disconnecting the flexible shafting unit from the sleeve assembly for repair or replacement of the former. In assembling or disassembling the core fitting with or from the adapter end 14, the easing terminal sleeve 20 can be bodily raised along the casing by unthreading screws l9 and 22, thus to give access to the taper pin 15. With the adapter end initially coupled to theadapter body, the latter procedure of raising the sleeve along the core is followed in effecting driving connection between the core fitting and adapter end.

If desired, the coupling may be sealed to prevent unauthorized disconnection of the flexible shafting unit from the valve; through the provision of a sealing wire 45 looped 'around a spoke of the valve operating hand wheel and threaded through an aperture provided in one of the arms of the coupling nut, the ends of the wire being sealed, for example, by a lead plug 46.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modified construction of I adapter assembly for securement to the hand wheel of a gate valve of. the rising stem type. According to the illustrated variant, the sleeve 52 of the adapter assembly has extended height to provide for the rise of the valve stem 53 to its dotted line position corresponding to full opening of the valve, and its lower end is filleted or swelled outwardly as shown to provide the increased diameter permitting the lower end of the sleeve to fit over the stem and associated valve parts.

The flexible shafting unit and the adapter assembly may be sealed in coupled relation to prevent unauthorized disconnection of the parts by a sealing wire 55 anchored at one end in an angled bracket 56 secured to the upper end of the sleeve 52 and threaded at its other end through an opening provided in an operating arm of the coupling nut 42 of the flexible shafting unit.

Fig. 4 is illustrative of a modified construction is turned; in valveopening direction; With the valvewin full open position: as: shown, itwill-' be observed-that a substantial rise oi the =sle'eve' 66 with I thevalve hand wheel relativev to- 5 adapter body--must-be-provided for. Tothis end; relative axialmovement between the sleeve Bit and the *threaded adapterbody G'l ispermitt'ed by form-- ing' the lower; end 68 ot=the adapter body; which corresponds=to the plugend' thereof illustrated in Figs; 2- and d, as apart; separate tromthe sleeve "having extra length at least-equal to the' riseof the sleeve; and' square-- (01""other polygonal? section;-' The square'endoi the adapter bodyop'erat'esin an; opening, shapedflto correspond= tothe square: (or: other polygonaD- section of the latiomaeaaioresaidz FIlhe coupling: means as (1e.-

scribedlfurthermore servesas a means.:.-ror quickl uncoupling the fiexi blezshaftmgaunit from the liarijdiwheel adapter: assembly, as: required" in. re-

-placement or-repair Oilthe shafting unit:

A's.manychanges could be madedncarryingout the-above constructions without: departing from the s'copaof-the invention; itvis intended that-all I matter contained in the above description or adapter end-'68; ofan internal-drisve bushing fl secured at the upper end of-"thesle'eve 6|i-= as by a-key TO and I brazin as=shown; thus to form-an integral part ofsleeve-GS; Witlrthe-"square end ofthe adapterbody-'and the bushing-6 9="provid'- ing a driving connection to the sleevefi'li sleeve 66- may-:alsorise-to-the extreme valve openpositionshown and thereuponlower with the valve hand wheeland stem; alongthelength of the end liB- -or'the adapterbody. To prevent-*separationof the threadedhead la -1i and itssquared' lower end from the-sleeve 66; the former atits lower-"or free endisprovided with a: stop was-hen l t-of larger outer diameter than the square end 68 thereof; being s'ecuredbya bolt H and inter mediate'lock washer; Thus; any attempt toseparate the threaded head and the squared lower end of the adapter body-from the sleeve assembly; asby raising-the formerfromthe sleevefifi; is resisted by Washer 12 coming'into eng-agement with thelower-end' iaceof the-busmng- 69. As"

with-theFig; 2 modification; theflexible shafting unit and operating sleeve assembly may be-sealed in coupled relatiorr by sealing" wire 14" anchored to a coupling nut arm 42* andthreaded through arr-aperture formedimtheneck portion-T5 of 'the threaded adapter part 611' Without further analysis; itwill be seen that the invention provides anovel and improved-flex.

ible-shafti-ngassembly-having especial utility as an actuator for the remote control of valves and like devices. The component parts of such an assembly, i. e. the flexible shafting unit and the hand wheel adapter assembly, may be assembled complete at the factory and shipped ready for installation. To install, the flexible shafting unit is mounted from the bulkhead or deck terminal at which the control of the valve is to be effected, the take-off end thereof extending to a point adjacent the valve to be actuated. Usually, the flexible shafting unit is fastened to the ship (or building) structure by means of clips which may be applied at predetermined points along the length of the shafting unit to secure the same in place. Installation of the hand wheel adapter.

and groove of the adapter end and body parts and threading the coupling nut on to the threaded head of the adapter body, such operation functioning to lock the adapter parts in coupled reshown in the, accompanying drawings: shall be interpreted as-i'l'liistrative and: not in a limiting 'sense I claim: l '1'; Aafiexible shafting assembly for operatin valves and; like 1 devices; provided with: an operat ing hancl w-heel from a: distance; comprisin a flex-ibl'eshaftingunit including a rotary: coreand astationary enclosingcasing; the core being pro- I vided with a driving terminal at an end thereof i 'einot'e from the valvetobe-- actuated and a driven fitting atits other end provided with a socket; and a-hand wheel adapter assembly comprising a-sleevesecured at itsoneend to the hand wheel was toturn thelatter and'carrying at itsother end separable adapter-"body and end parts; the-adapter endparthaving; a reduced di; ameter shank portionex-tendi-ng into the driven fitting socket, means providing a driving connectionbetween the driven fitting and" the adapter shank" portion; and means providing a quick detachable coupling betweenthe separable jadapter'bodyand' nd-parts. j

'2: A' flexible shafting assembly-for operating valves and likedevices-provided with an operati-ng-hand-wheelirom a distance,- com-prisinga flexibleshafting-uni-t including arotary core and j astationary'enclosing casing; thecore; beingprovid'ed with" a driving terminal at anend thereof I remote from-the-valve to-be actuated and adriv'en fitting'at its other end provided with asocket,

and a, hand) wheel; adapterassembly' comprising a: sleeve, secured at it'sone-end to the hand wheel so as to; turn the latter and carrying at itsother end separableadapter body and end parts, of

which the adapterbodypart has; a portion ex* tending intoand drivinglyt' connected; with the sleeve; the adapter" e'n'dparthaving a reduced diameter shame-portion extending into the driven fitting socket, means providing a driving connection between the driven fitting and the adapter shank portion, and means providing a quick detachable coupling between the separable adapter body and end parts.

3. A flexible shafting assembly for operating valves and like devices provided with an oper-' ating hand-wheel from a distance, comprising a flexible shafting unit including a rotary core and a stationary enclosing casing, the core being provided with a driving terminal at an end thereof remote from the valve to be actuated and a driven fitting at its other end provided with a socket, and a hand wheel adapter assembly comprising a sleeve secured at its one end to the hand-wheel so as to turn the latter and carrying at its other end separable adapter body and.

4. A flexible shafting assembly for operating valves. and like devices provided with an operating hand-wheel from a distance, comprising a flexible shafting unit including a rotary core and a stationary enclosing casing, the core being provided with a driving terminal at an end thereof remote from the valve to be actuated and a driven fitting at its other end provided with a socket, and a hand-wheel adapter assembly comprising a sleeve secured at its one end to the hand-wheel so as to turn the latter and carrying at its other end separable adapter body and end parts, of which the adapter'body part is drivingly secured to .the sleeve and has a head portion provided with threads, the adapter end part having a reduced diametershank portion extending into the fitting socket and neck and head portions of stepped diameter with an intermediate shoulder therebetween, means providing a driving connection between the driven fitting and the adapter shank portion, and means coupling the head portions of the adapter body and end parts comprising a tongue and groove connection between said heads, and a coupling nut adapted to be threaded onto the head of the adapter body part, said nut having a flange turning on the neck portion of the adapter end part and bearing against the shoulder intermediate the neck and head portions of said end part.

5. A flexible shafting assembly for operating valves and like devices provided with an operating hand-wheel from a. distance, comprising a flexible shafting unit including a rotary core and a stationary enclosing casing, the core being provided with a driving terminal at an end thereof remote from the valve to be actuated and a driven fitting at its other end provided with a socket, and a hand-wheel adapter assembly comprising a sleeve secured at itsone end to the hand-wheel so as to turn the latter and carrying at its other end separable adapter body and end parts, a driving connection between the adapter body part and the sleeve providing for relative axial move ment therebetween, said adapter end part having a'reduced diameter shank portion extending into the driven fitting socket, means providing a driving connection between the driven fitting and the adapter shank portion, and means providing a quick detachable coupling between the separable adapter body and end parts.

, 6. A flexible shafting assembly for operatin valves and like devices provided with an operating hand-wheel from a distance, comprising a flexible shaiting unit including a rotary core and a stationary enclosing casing, the core being provided with a driving terminal at an end thereof remote from the valve to be actuated and a driven fitting at its other end provided with a socket, and a hand-wheel adapter assembly comprising a sleeve secured at its one end to the hand-wheel so -as to turn the latter and carrying at its other end separable adapter body and end parts, of which saidbody part has polygonal section and extends to an opening of like section in theupper end of the sleeve, whereby to provide a driving connection permitting relative axial movement between the sleeve and adapter body part, the adapter end part having a reduced diameter shank portion extending into the driven fittin socket, means providing a driving connection between the driven.-fitting and the adapter shank portion, and means providing a quick detachable coupling between the separable adapter body and end parts.

7. A flexible shaiting assembly for operating valves and like devices provided with an operating hand-wheel from a distance, comprising a flexible shafting unit including a rotary core and a stationary enclosing casing, the core being provided with a driving terminal at an end thereof remote from the valve to be actuated and a driven fitting at its other end provided with a socket, the casing extending to a terminal sleeve carrying an interior wear bushing and surrounding the driven fitting, and a hand wheel adapter assembly comprising a sleeve secured atits one end to the hand-wheel so as to turn the latter and carrying at its other end separable adapter body and end parts, the adapter end part having a reduced diameter shank portion extending into the fitting socket and a cylindrical bearing portion turning in said Wear bushing, means providing a driving connection between the driven fitting and the shank portion of the adapter end part, and means providing a quick detachable coupling between the separable adapter body and end parts.

GEORGE G. EISENBEIS. 

